A Case For Reform

Our Towns

Hartford & Neighbors

February 03, 2005

Sometimes the Hartford school system can't get out of its own way.

Officials at the Hartford Federation of Teachers, it was revealed recently in The Courant, filed a grievance against the Breakthrough Magnet School last fall because teachers there were working an extra hour each day without pay.

FOR THE RECORD - Correction published February 4, 2005.The Hartford Federation of Teachers says that under its contract, teachers who are required to work an extended day should receive more pay. A Feb. 3 editorial ``A Case For Reform'' misstated the union's position.

The extra hour was a carry-over from a time when Breakthrough was a charter school with more control over scheduling. The time is used to fulfill the school's mission of character education. But to the union, the free hour is a contract violation, which under the terms of its labor agreement should be paid and which teachers should have the option to work.

That granting the option would harm the program apparently did not enter into the union's considerations. The controversy has festered without resolution for months.

As educational innovations are introduced in an effort to boost student achievement, a teacher's workday may get redefined. The problem created by the union grievance at Breakthrough shows why schools should be granted greater flexibility in establishing class size, the beginning and end of the school day and the frequency of meetings among other rules. Students from 17 municipalities including Hartford, Bristol, East Hartford, Enfield, Southington, West Hartford and Windsor have been attracted by Breakthrough's program. Putting that in jeopardy because of a union grievance would be a shame.

State Education Commissioner Betty Sternberg says she will ask the General Assembly to pass legislation that would give more latitude to low-performing schools and magnets. Her proposal would allow principals to select their own teachers.

Similar education models are being tried in other cities across the nation. To the extent that they demonstrate that they will improve learning, they should be considered.